Article handling device



Dec.13,1938. BLKEENEY' 2,140;427

' ARTICLE HANDLING DEVICE Filed July 25, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 13, 1938.

B. L. KEENEY ARTICLE HANDLING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 25, 1938 Patented Dec. 13, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 8 Claims.

This invention relates to article handling devvices and particularly to article handling devices of the type which may be utilized for introducing and withdrawing films and the like to and from a number of developing or other solutions or fluids in order.

The primary objects of this invention are, to provide in such a device a shaft or element formed with a series of connected longitudinal and rotary guide paths or tracks, and automatic means for moving an article carrier or the like along said paths or tracks; to provide automatic means for shutting off the power in such a machine after the films or articles carried thereby have been immersed in each of the successive solutions or fluids for the requisite length of time; and to provide such a device in which the operation is positive and smooth to allow handling of delicate articles without damaging or unduly jarring the same.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a preferred embodiment of my invention;

Figure 2, a top plan View of Figure 1;

Figure 3, an enlarged sectional view on the line 33 of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows, and showing in dotted lines one position of the device during operation with the film carrier suspended in the tank, the control switch being omitted;

Figure 4, a sectional View on the line 44 of Figure 3 looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Figure 5, a diagram showing the arrangement of the guide slot or path on the shaft or pipe 4.

Referring now in detail to the accompanying drawings, the numeral I designates a fluid containing tank provided with a plurality of vertical relatively parallel separating partitions 2 which divide said tank I into a number of separate sections 9, the partitions 2 preferably being integral with the tank I and said tank I and partitions 2 preferably being coated or lined internally with some suitable material such as glass or wax to withstand the action of the various chemical solutions which are commonly used in the development of films. It is to be noted that the distance between each pair of partitions 2 varies with, or is in proportion to, the length of time in which the films or articles are to be immersed in the fluid contained between said partitions in the tank sections 9.

Fixedly mounted over said tank by any suitable means, such as a bracket 3 riveted or otherwise secured to the forward end of said tank I, and extending lengthwise thereof across said partitions 2, is a hollow externally screw-threaded pipe or shaft 4 formed with a series of longitudinal slots 5 and 6, the respective adjacent ends of said slots 5 and 6 being connected by a series of rotary slots I to form a continuous guide slot generally denoted by the numeral 8. The guide slot 8 is clearly shown in Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings.

The longitudinal slots 5 are disposed on the 1.

lower side of the pipe or element 4, preferably in alignment with each other, each said slot 5 being in substantial registry with one of said tank sections 9. The length of each said slot 5 varies in direct proportion to the length ofv time in which the films are to be immersed in the fluid therebeneath in the respective tank sections 9.

The longitudinal slots 6 are disposed on the upper side of said pipe 4 preferably in alignment with each other and registering respectively with the partitions 2.

It is to be noted that the slots or tracks 6 on the upper side of pipe 4 are not necessary or indispensible and may be omitted, and instead the rotary slots I may be made to extend helically for an entire revolution around said pipe, instead of half a revolution as shown, to connect the respective adjacent ends of the respective lower longitudinal slots 5. However it is preferred to include slots 6 since obviously the use of such slots 6 makes for a stronger pipe 4 than would such arrangement. The rotary slots 1 are shown in the preferred embodiment of my invention as being helical and would necessarily be so if the longitudinal slots were omitted as above, however in the preferred construction shown wherein the upper longitudinal slots 6 are included as part of guide slot 8, it is immaterial whether the rotary slots 1 are helical as shown or I extend circumferentially around pipe or shaft 4.

It is to be preferred that said guide slot 8 should begin and end with a rotary slot I, as shown, so that in operation the film carrier I I may be easily positioned from the top or upper side of pipe 4 without immersing it in any of the developing solutions or fluids prior to the start of-the actual developing operation, and at the end of the developing operation the carrier II may come to rest in an upwardly extending position above tank I and out of the developing fluid.

Disposed for axial and rotary movement within the pipe or hollow shaft 4 is a piston or element III which is formed with a socket into which may be removably inserted the end of a film or article carrier or rod II, said carrier II extending through and engaging the sides of guide slot 8. In the preferred embodiment the carrier II is retained in the socket by friction, although the socket and carrier may be provided with cooperating screw-threads, or any other suitable means may be provided for mounting carrier II on piston I II.

The carrier II is provided at its outwardly extending portion with suitable means for re leasably engaging and holding a plurality of films or other small articles, said means in the-- present instance consisting of a plurality of spring clips a.

Also, suitable means are provided for urging the film carrier II through longitudinal slots or tracks 5 and 6 to the respective forward ends thereof, the preferred means consisting of a tension spring I2 attached at one end to a'plug I3 fixedly mounted :in the forward-end of pipe 4, the other end of said spring I2 being attached to piston ID to pull said piston towards said plug.

In order to allow piston I 0 to be reset after operation, means preferably consisting of a wire or string 34 and extending rearwardly out of sleeve I5 are provided so that said string 34 may be easily grasped andpulled rearwardly by the operator to move said-piston I0 rearwardly back to starting position against the action of spring I2.

Mounted concentrically for rotation and axial movement on pipe 4 and having an internally screw-threaded portion I4 in releasable engage-.

ment with thethreads thereof isa sleeve or carriage I5. The sleeve I5 issupported or rotatably journalled in a bearing or journal I G'integral with a rigid metal plate 33 which in turn is riveted or otherwise suitably attached to the rear end of tank I for purposes hereinafter set forth.

The screw-threaded portion I 4 above referred to preferably consists of a two part internally screw-threaded hinged clamp, permanently, attachedv by means of a permanent pivot pin II, shown in Figure 4, to the forwardend of said sleeve I5. Portion I4 may be locked .in'position about pipe 4'by means of :a removable forwardly projecting actuating pin or lug I8' extending through the interlocked ends of the parts of said clamp I4 to be frictionally or otherwise'suitably retained in a socket formed in' the adjacent forward end of sleeve I 5. 7

The forwardly projecting portion of actuating pin or projection or lug I8 in operation rotates with said sleeve and moves forward slightly in advance of the portion I4 thereof to at the proper time engage and rotate the carrier II through said rotary slots 1. V

In the preferred embodiment of the invention the sleeve I 5'is provided adjacent its forward end with a pair of spaced annular shoulders or stops I9 between which is rotatably mounted a ring 20 which carries a forwardly projectingsubstantially U.shaped yoke 2I extending about carrier II to rotate therewith and allow relative longitudinal movement .of said carrier II in said yoke 2| and at the same time limit the amount ofimmediate forward or longitudinal movement of-said carrier-II .upon its entrance into the longitudinal slots .5 and 6. Yoke 2I by thus checking the forward movement of carrier II in said slots 5 and 5 serves to prevent the shock and undue jarring which might occur if the carrier were allowed .to be pulled. forward at full-speed by the action of spring I 2 until it reached the ends of said respective longitudinal slots 5 and 8.

However, while the yoke 2I is desirable, it may be entirely omitted without causing undue adverse influence on the operation of the invention.

Suitable means are provided for rotating sleeve I5 at a constant rate of rotation to produce a constant rate of relative axial movement between said sleeve or carriage I5 and said pipe 4. The preferred means shown in the accompanying drawings consists of an electrically driven motor 22 mounted on a supporting bracket 23 by suitable means such as bolts 26, the bracket 23 in turn being mounted immovably on plate 33 at the rear end of tank I by rivets 25 or other suitable means.

Motor 22 in operation transmits rotary motion through a series of speed reduction gears 26 also carried byplate to rotate drive gear 2? mounted for relative axial movement on the rearwardly extending portion of sleeve 55 at the rear of bearing I6. Drive gear 2? is formed with a radially inwardly projecting key or lug 28 disposed for axial movement in a longitudinally extending slot 29 formed in the rearwardly extending portion of sleeve I 5 to permit relative axial or longitudinal movement of said drive gear 2'! and sleeve I 5 and allow said sleeve I5 to be positively engaged and rotated by said drive gear 21.

The control means for electric motor 22 preferably consist of a medially pivoted switch lever 30 of electrical conducting material mounted on and suitably insulated from the bracket 3 at the forward end of tank I, the end of said lever 30 projecting rearwardly into the path of movement of carrier II, and the forward. end of lever 30 being adapted to engage a contact 3I, similarly mounted on and insulated from bracket 3, to close the electric motor circuit through wire 32 and supply electricity to motor 22. preferably grounded on bracket 23 to complete the electric circuit therethrough.

To operate the device the-sleeve I5 is placed in the position shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings with the screw-threaded portion I4 thereof in engagement with the rearmost part of the screw-threaded portion of pipe 4, after which the piston I0 is pulled rearwardly by means of string 34 to' starting position with its socket in registry with the beginning of the rearmost rotary slot I. After thus placing sleeve I5 and piston I I! in proper starting position the films which are to be developed are disposed inthe spring clips a of carrier II after which the lower end of carrier II is passed through yoke 2| and the:

beginning of rearmost slot I to be received and retained during operation in the socket formed in piston III. In each of Figures 1, 2 and 3 the device is thus shown arranged in proper starting position.

After thus positioning the device for starting, the switch lever 30 is pivoted into engagement with contact 3i to close the circuit through motor 22, whereupon sleeve I5 is rotated at a constant relatively slow rate of speed until the pin I8 carried thereby engages carrier II and rotates it through rotary slot l to immerse it and the films carried thereon (not shown) in the fluid or film developing solution contained in the first of said tank sections 9. After being thus immersed, carrier II enters into the first of the downwardly disposed longitudinal slots 5, whereupon spring I 2 serves to immediately pull said carrier II to the forward end of yoke 2I out of engagement with pin I8, it being noted that yoke 2I extends forward substantially further than does pin l8 to allow sufficient clearance. The carrier H and sleeve l5 then move forward together at a constant rate of speed until the carrier reaches the forward end of longitudinal slot 5, whereupon it comes to a stop and remains stationary with the film carrier suspended in tank section 9 adjacent the first of said partitions 2 until sleeve I5 advances far enough for pin l8 carried thereon to again engage and rotate carrier l l upwardly out of the first tank section 9 through rotary slot 1. After thus emerging from the tank section 9 carrier ll enters into the upwardly disposed longitudinal slot 6 whereupon it is immediately pulled forward in yoke 2| out of engagement with pin I8 while it moves longitudinally across the top of the first partition 2 until it comes to rest at the forward end of said slot 6 until again engaged by pin. l8 for immersion in the next tank section 9, whereupon the foregoing process is repeated, the carrier l I being repeatedly immersed in each tank section 9 in order and lifted over the respective partitions 2 until it reaches the end of its travel in guide slot 8. At the end of its path of movement, when rotating upwardly through the last rotary slot 1, carrier ll engages the rearwardly extending switch lever 30 and rotates the same away from contact 3| to shut off the supply of electricity to motor 22. The developed films may then, if desired, be left in clips a to dry.

The dotted lines in Figure 3 show the relative positions of carrier ll, yoke 2| and sleeve l5 during the longitudinal movement of carrier I! through one of the longitudinal lower slots 5.

In order to repeat the above process, the developed films are first removed from clips at and carrier l l is removed from its socket in piston Ill, after which pin I8 is removed allowing the two parts of clamp or portion M to be spread apart and disengaged from about pipe 4 so that sleeve I5 may then be freely moved axially back to starting position. The piston I0 is then placed in starting position as hereinbefore described to receive carrier H having a new batch of films mounted thereon for development or treatment.

Although the preferred form of the invention herein shown and described has been adapted for use as an automatic film developer it might equally well be adapted for use in automatically dipping and removing small articles from a plating solution or staining microscope slides and similar uses, without departing from the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. An automatic film developer comprising, a hollow externally screw-threaded pipe formed with a series of longitudinal slots having their respective adjacent ends connected by a series of rotary slots to form a continuous guide slot; a piston disposed for axial and rotary movement within said pipe and formed with a socket; a film carrier removably frictionally mounted in said socket and extending through and engaging the sides of said guide slot; and means for urging said carrier through said longitudinal slots comprising a plug disposed in the forward end of said pipe and a tension spring disposed in said pipe with its ends respectively attached to said plug and said piston; in combination with a sleeve mounted concentrically on said pipe and having an internally screw-threaded portion in removable engagement with the threads thereof; means for rotating said sleeve at a constant rate of speed to produce a constant rate of relative axial movement between said sleeve and said pipe; a U-shaped yoke rotatably mounted on said sleeve to receive said carrier and limit the rate of longitudinal movement thereof in said longitudinal slots, said carrier in its travel through said longitudinal slots being urged to the respective forward ends thereof by said tension spring; a forwardly extending pin mounted on said sleeve to engage said carrier at the end of its path of movement through each of said longitudinal slots and rotate the same through said respective rotary slots, said pin extending forwardly substantially less than said yoke so as not to engage said carrier during its travel through said longitudinal slots; and automatic control means for rendering said sleeve rotating means inoperative when said carrier reaches the extreme forward end of said guide slot.

2. An automatic film developer comprising, a hollow externally screw-threaded pipe formed with a series of longitudinal slots having their respective adjacent ends connected by a series of rotary slots to form a continuous guide slot, a piston disposed for axial and rotary movement within said pipe and formed with a socket, a film carrier removably frictionally mounted in said socket and extending through and engaging the sides of said guide slot, and means for urging said carrier to the respective forward ends of said longitudinal slots comprising a plug disposed in the forward end of said pipe and a tension spring disposed in said pipe with its ends respectively attached to said plug and said piston, in combination with a sleeve mounted concentrically on said pipe and having an internally screwthreaded portion in removable engagement with the threads thereof, means for rotating said sleeve at a constant rate of speed to produce a constant rate of relative axial movement between said sleeve and said pipe, and a forwardly extending pin mounted on said sleeve to rotate therewith and engage said carrier at the forward end of each said longitudinal slot to rotate the same through said rotary slots, said longitudinal slots being of substantially greater length than said pin and the rate of forward movement of said carrier in said longitudinal slots being substantially greater than the rate of forward movement of said pin, so that said pin will engage said carrier only after it reaches the end of each said longitudinal slot.

3. An automatic film developer comprising, a hollow externally screw-threaded pipe formed with a series of longitudinal slots having their respective adjacent ends connected by a series of rotary slots to form a continuous guide slot, a piston disposed for axial and rotary movement within said pipe, a film carrier removably mounted on said piston and extending through and engaging the sides of said guide slot, and means for urging said carrier to the respective forward ends of said longitudinal slots, in combination with a sleeve mounted concentrically on said pipe and having an internally screw-threaded portion in removable engagement with the threads thereof, means for rotating said sleeve at a constant rate of speed to produce a constant rate of relative axial movement between said sleeve and said pipe, and a forwardly extending pin mounted on said sleeve to rotate therewith and engage said carrier at the forward end of each said longitudinal slot to rotate the same through each said rotary slot, said longitudinal slots being of substantially greater length than said pin and the rate of forward movement of said carrier in said longitudinal slots being substantially greater than the rate of forward movement of said pin so that said pin will engage said carrier only after said carrier reaches the end of each said longitudinal slot.

4. An automatic film developer comprising, a hollow externally screw-threaded pipe formed with a series of longitudinal slots having their respective adjacent ends connected by a series of rotary slots to form a continuous guide slot, a piston disposed for axial and rotary movement within said pipe, a film carrier removably mounted on said piston and extending through and engaging the sides of said guide slot, and means for urging said carrier to the respective forward ends of said longitudinal slots, in combination with a sleeve mounted concentrically on said pipe and having an internally screw-threaded portion in removable engagement with the threads thereof, means for rotating said sleeve at a constant rate of speed to produce a constant rate of relative axial movement between said sleeve and said pipe, and a forwardly extending pin mounted on said sleeve to rotate therewith and engage said carrier at the forward end of each said longitudinal slot to rotate the same through said rotary slots.

5. An article handling device comprising, a hollow externally screw-threaded pipe formed with a series of longitudinal slots having their respective adjacent ends connected by a series of rotary slots to form a continuous guide slot, a piston disposed for movement within said pipe, a film carrier mounted on said piston and extending through and engaging the sides of said guide slot, and means for urging said carrier to the respective forward ends of said longitudinal slots, in combination with a sleeve mounted concentrically on said pipe and having an internally screw-threaded portion in engagement with the threads thereof, means for rotating said sleeve, and means mounted on said sleeve to rotate therewith and engage said carrier at the forward end of each said longitudinal slot to rotate the same through said rotary slots.

6. An article handling device comprising, a shaft formed with a series of longitudinal and rotary slots connected to form a continuous guide slot, an article carrier mounted for movement in said guide slot, and means for moving said carrier through said longitudinal slots, in combination with a sleeve mounted concentrically on said shaft, means: for simultaneously rotating and axially moving said sleeve, and means carried by said sleeve to engage said carrier and rotate the same through said rotary slots.

7. Article handling means comprising a shaft formed with a series of connected longitudinal and rotary guide slots, ,an article carrier mounted I for movement through said guide slots, and means for moving said article carrier through said longitudinal slots, in combination with means mounted for relative axial and rotary movement about said shaft to engage said carrier and move the same through said rotary slots.

8. Article handling means comprising a shaft formed with a series of connected longitudinal and rotary guide tracks, an article carrier mounted for movement along said tracks, and means for moving said article carrier along said longitudinal tracks, in combination with means normally unengaged for engaging said carrier at the beginning of each said rotary track to rotate it therethrough and thereafter release it for movement along one of said longitudinal tracks.

BERT L. KEENEY. 

